Private
2 hrs
LivTours Private Rodin Museum Tour allows you to explore the collection of what many refer to as the “French Michelangelo” with an expert private guide at your side. Auguste Rodin is certainly one of France’s most influential sculptors. The Museum, located inside the opulent Hôtel Biron, was occupied by other famous artistic Parisians like Cocteau, Matisse, Isadora Duncan, and Westhoff. Originally Rodin had rented just four south-facing rooms on the ground floor overlooking the unruly gardens, which influenced a number of his paintings, until 1911 when he took over the entire building.
Poor vision meant that a young Rodin could not follow lessons at school on the blackboard, so he took to drawing. This practice paid off as his improvement was notable and when he was 13 he started attending drawing lessons. Sadly, his application to the Fine Arts School of Paris was rejected three times, and, thinking he was not to be an artist, he pursued a career in decorative arts which entailed preparing public statues for the quickly modernizing Paris. This setback from his artistic career lasted nearly twenty years, making Rodin a man in his 40s before his sculptures were getting international recognition.
In the company of your private guide, you will have the opportunity to explore the extensive and charming sculpture gardens, as well as admire the countless precious artworks and artifacts from Rodin’s legendary career. With an expert LivTours guide by your side, you will learn the stories behind Rodin’s masterworks and his revolutionary technique.
Come explore the museum of who many would say is the pioneer of modern sculpture!
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Often considered the “French Michelangelo,” Auguste Rodin is unquestionably one of France’s most influential sculptors. The best way for tourists to fully appreciate Rodin’s genius is to book a tour of Paris’s Rodin Museum. Located inside the opulent Hôtel Biron, the Rodin Museum contains countless precious artworks and artifacts from Rodin’s legendary career. With an expert LivTours guide by your side, you will learn the stories behind Rodin’s masterworks and his revolutionary technique.
Your LivTours Private Rodin Museum in Paris Tour will begin inside the sumptuous Hôtel Biron, which is a short walk from Les Invalides. Auguste Rodin used this building as his primary studio near the end of his life. Shortly before he died in 1917, Rodin bequeathed thousands of his sculptures to the French government for safekeeping. The Rodin Museum now houses thousands of Rodin’s most iconic sculptures as well as archival documents, photos, and stunning artworks from Rodin’s personal art collection.
As you explore the many works housed inside the Hôtel Biron, you will learn how Rodin’s realistic style shocked the 19th-century art establishment. Amazingly, critics once speculated Auguste Rodin placed molds directly on human models to make his sculptures so lifelike. Rodin’s first major sculpture to spark this controversy was The Age of Bronze, which was partially inspired by Michelangelo’s Slaves.
While admiring the Rodin sculptures currently on display, take a few moments to look through the many photographs, paintings, and artifacts from Rodin’s collection. As Rodin achieved fame later in life, he began to acquire many significant works from the Ancient World as well as paintings by famous contemporary artists like Monet, Van Gogh, and Charles Cottet. A few rare paintings that are sometimes on display include Vincent van Gogh’s Portrait of Père Tanguy and Monet’s Belle-Île.
In addition to housing Rodin’s sculptures and art collection, the Rodin Museum has a special wing dedicated to the work of Camille Claudel. A revolutionary sculptor in her own right, Claudel studied in Rodin’s studio in the late 19th century. If it’s not on loan, then you might get to see Claudel’s masterpiece The Mature Age, which some critics speculate was inspired by her affair with Rodin.
When you finish your tour inside Hôtel Biron, your guide will lead you outside to the beautifully arranged sculpture garden. Here you might get to see a few works from Rodin’s unfinished Gates of Hell series such as the world-renowned Thinker. You might also get to see a cast of the Burghers of Calais, which depicts a powerful scene of self-sacrifice during the Hundred Years’ War. Spend as much time as you need in this relaxing garden before heading back to the streets of Paris.
LivTours’ group size of max 6 participants is and always has been based on sustainable travel, and we are proud to be at the forefront of change and innovation in the industry. LivTours is committed to providing travelers with truly sustainable tours with the lowest possible environmental impact, all while supporting the local industries and people of each unique destination. To learn more about how you can actively support sustainable tourism and how LivTours is contributing, click here.
When you book a LivTours Private Tour or Experience, you are guaranteed a dedicated, expert guide that allows you the flexibility to start your tour at a time which is convenient for you, making planning easy. Our private tours ensure that you will get a tailored experience to meet all your needs so we go at your pace, perfect for families with younger children, elderly, or individuals with accessibility needs. Please be advised that all private tours begin at a base price starting at two people*. Prices are inclusive of entry tickets where applicable. *Some Ferrari private experiences are inclusive of one person only.
Make your experience even more unique by upgrading your LivTours experience. Please note: add-ons are non refundable.
By selecting Choose Dates Later / Buy as Gift at booking, any tour can be purchased without fixed dates. This is the perfect option if you want to purchase your tour as a gift for a loved one, or if you are in the pre-planning phase of your vacation. After booking, you will receive a Travel Voucher Code and full instructions on how to schedule your tours when ready. Once your travel plans are confirmed, you can easily use the Travel Voucher Code on the LivTours website to formally schedule your tours. You can find out more here.
